Ironing-board.



W. E, PERRY.

moms 1301mm.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 7, 1910. 4 990,586., Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

EN ITEB STATES FATE @FFIQE.

IRONING-BOARD.

Application filed June 7,

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. PERRY, citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ironing-Boards; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a novel construction in an ironing board and, more particularly, in simple and efficient means for clamping the same to the edge of a table, or the like, usually employed as a support for the same, the object being to provide a simple and efiicient device of the kind specified, and consists in the features of construction hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating this invention: Figure 1 is a top plan view of an ironing board constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. --2 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof showing the edge portion of a table for supporting the same at one end in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a rear end elevation of the board partly broken away to disclose the details of construction of the clamping mechanism.

In all ironing boards it is desirable that the smaller tapered end should project freely some distance beyond the supporting device so that skirts, waists and the like, may be drawn over said end and conveniently ironed. In view of the fact that in ironing a very considerable pressure is applied to the board the supports for the same must be very rigid, that is, unyielding.

My invention has for its principal object to provide means for easily and effectually clampin the larger end of an ironing board to the edge portion of a table so as to prevent lateral movement of the board relatively thereto and by means of such rigid connection of the board with the table I am enabled to provide a single supporting leg about midway between the ends of the board to eflectually support the same at its free end portion and thus enabling a large portion, substantially half the length of the board, to project beyond said supporting leg.

All articles used in a household are necessarily employed to a considerable extent by unintelligent servants and to this end all Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

1910. Serial No. 565,665.

mechanism comprised in such devices must necessarily be of the simplest possible character and at the same time of ample strength so as to be not only readily understood but also capable of withstanding the abuse to which they are subjected. To this end I have devised clamping means engaging the table at two points, both of said clamping means being, however, operated by a single device.

In the larger end of the board adjacent the corners thereof I provide openings A through which plungers B pass which are provided at their lower ends with projections C adapted to pass underneath the edge portion of the table top D, the latter being thus received between the lower face of the ironing board and the opposing faces of said projections C. On the upper face of the ironing board I provide, adjacent said openings A, but nearer the middle of said board, standards E having bifurcated upper end portions between which levers F are received, the latter being pivotally secured between their ends in said standards by means of rivets G and being pivotally secured at their outer ends to the upper ends of said plungers B by means of bolts H or other satisfactory devices. Midway between said openings A I provide an opening I in the board through which the shank of a bolt J passes loosely. The lower end of said opening is surrounded by an annular recess K for the reception of a washer L upon which the head M of said bolt bears. On the upper end portion, of said shank of said bolt, a washer N is loosely disposed and between the latter and said washer L a helical compression spring 0 is interposed which serves to normally maintain said washer N at the upper limit of its movement. The diameter of the opening I is suflicient to provide an annular space surrounding the shank of the bolt for the reception of said spring 0. Said threaded end of said bolt receives the thumb nut P underneath which the inner ends of said levers F project, the latter being confined at said ends between said washer N and a washer Q disposed beneath said thumb nut P and which is equipped with side flanges R to prevent the escape of said levers from the path of said washer by being sprung laterally away from the shank of the bolt. By turning said thumb screw P in one direction the last-named ends of the said levers F will obviously be depressed against the action of the spring 0 thus drawing said plungers B upwardly and causing the table edge to be firmly clamped between the projections C and the lower face of the ironing board. The movement of said levers being simultaneous and said plungers being drawn upwardly in equal degree will insure a positive and firm engagement of the table edge at two points so that any lateral movement of the ironing board must necessarily turn the table and as the latter is usually relatively heavy this contingency could only occur if lateral pressure of a considerable degree were applied to the board.

About midway between the ends of the board I provide a pair of downwardly extended parallel projections S between which parallel plates T are received, the latter being pivotally secured thereto by means of the rivets U. Each of said plates is provided with two longitudinal slots V through which bolts W are passed, the latter serving to firmly secure the leg X to said plates and in conjunction with the latter permit vertical adjustment of said leg X relatively to the board so as to support the body thereof parallel to the plane of said table top D. When the ironing board is removed and set against the wall the said leg X will swing on the pivots U and lie fiat against the bottom of the board longitudinally thereof. I have also shown a folding support for a sad iron mounted upon the end portion of the table adjacent said clamping means but the same constitutes no part of the present invention and particular description thereof is, therefore, omitted as constituting superfluous matter.

My said board is very simple, efficient, durable and is easily operated by unskilled as well as skilled persons.

I claim as my invention:

The combination of an ironing board and means for engaging the same with a table comprising a pair of clamping members passing through openings in said board and equipped below the latter with projections, a pair of standards mounted on the said board, a pair of levers pivotally mounted between their ends in said standards and each pivotally connected at one end with one of said clamping members, said levers being disposed in opposed relation and overlapping each other at their ends, a threaded member mounted in said board midway between said standards, a member longitudinally movable on said threaded member and engaging the ends of said levers, a spring normally maintaining said last-named member at the upper limlt of its movement, and a thumb nut mounted on said threaded member and engaging said lever engaging memher and adapted to actuate the same against the action of said spring.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WVILLIAM E. PERRY.

Witnesses RUDOLPH WVM. Lorrz, M. M. BOYLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

